Aqeel Khan annexes 5th Serena Hotels National Ranking Tennis Tournament title
Aqeel Khan outplayed Muzammil Murtaza 6-3, 7-6 in the final to win the 5th Serena Hotels National Ranking Tennis Tournament title at PTF Tennix Complex.
Pakistan’s longest serving No 1 Aqeel Khan avenged his two successive defeats to his nemesis as he outplayed Muzammil Murtaza in men’s singles final to clinch the 5th Serena Hotels National Ranking Tennis Tournament trophy at Senator Dilawar Abbas PTF Tennis Complex.
Aqeel, who has ruled Pakistan's domestic tennis for two decades had lost two back-to-back finals against the No. 2 Muzammil Murtaza but got the better of the youngster this time around. In the first set, Aqeel was more aggressive and composed and played powerful backhands and winners to put immense pressure on his opponent eventually winning the first set 6-3 in 32 minutes.
In a more even second set, a determined Muzammil matched focused Aqeel's fire with fire as both the players displayed superb quality tennis. Muzammil, twice, had the chances of breaking Aqeel in the 12th game, but Aqeel managed to hold his serve to force the second set tie break where he won the tie break 7-4 to to land the title with the scores of 6-3, 7-6(4).
In the ladies singles final, Sarah Mehboob defeated Sara Mansoor 6-3, 6-7, 6-2 to win the title.
In boys U-18 final, top seed and Davis Cupper Muhammad Shoaib simply outclassed Zalan Khan in straight sets, winning the final and title by 6-3, 6-2. Bilal Asim won the boys U-14 singles title after edging out Ahmed Nail in tough battle, which he won 6-4, 7-6(4).
M Huzaifa Khan/Hamid Israr won the boys U-14 doubles title after beating Haider Ali Rizwan/Hussnain Ali Rizwan 4-1, 4-1. Hussnain Ali Rizwan (LGS Paragon) won the boys & girls U-12 title by beating Hamza Roman 2-4, 4-2, 4-2. Hamza Ali Rizwan (LGS Paragon) clinched the U-10 boys & girls singles title by beating Haniya Minhas 5-4(2), 4-2.
Serena Hotels Manager Marketing Hussain Odhwani graced the occasion as chief guest and Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) President Salim Saifullah Khan was the guest of honour while dignitaries, tennis lovers and parents also came in huge numbers to witness the quality tennis on offer.
